Casillas: “I feel plenty of warmth, confidence and hope”

Spanish goalkeeper visited the FC Porto Museum by BMG, this Tuesday, and revealed he is “extremely happy”

After the visit to the FC Porto Museum by BMG, done with the company of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and Antero Henrique, Iker Casillas talked exclusively to Porto Canal and www.fcporto.pt. The day after arriving at Porto, the Spanish goalkeeper admitted he was “happy and thankful” for the welcome he got and explained the reasons that made him choose FC Porto as the second club he will be representing in his entire career, after 25 years under Real Madrid. The blue now joins the “blanco”.

“I chose FC Porto for the confidence they showed in me from day one, not just the chairman, but also the general director and the coach. That is something extremely important for a player to be at his top performance. I feel plenty of warmth, confidence and hope since I got here and all of that is mutual. I appreciate the way everyone has been treating me and my family”, Casillas stated, relating with the new reality and ready to find out more. “I enjoy knowing about the history of football, and I know a lot about the history of FC Porto, a club that, in a way, was always present in my career. They’re a very important club, that achieved plenty of success both internally and internationally. I’m here to help FC Porto achieve more success”.

This new reality started by the end of the afternoon on Monday, when Casillas landed in Porto. There were several dozens of fans waiting for him, and showing him that “warmth” the goalkeeper mentions. “I’d like to thank the fans and the welcome they gave me, even though I had very little time to greet them. I’m happy and thankful. Thank you very much for the way I was received here and, hopefully, in May, by the end of the season, we will be able to celebrate titles together”, the new white and blue number 12 continued, having already visited Estádio do Dragão. “It’s a big stadium and I know how ecstatic the fans are about the team. I hope that we can achieve great moments this year and that the fans can enjoy them with us”.

After the first couple of hours at Porto and FC Porto, Casillas stated he believes he will adjust quickly to the club and to the city, restating the “chemistry” between all parties, key to the successes and victories everyone wants. “I’m sure it will be easy for me to adjust and I want to have a beautiful experience here, not just individually, but also professionally. The demand is extreme and I’m here to compete, that’s the way I am since I was a kid. I want to win titles and bring our fans many joys, because that’s what they deserve. There’s great harmony between me and FC Porto, because they are ambitious, just like I am. We all hope that we can both keep making our history richer”.

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, chairman of FC Porto, welcomed Casillas with open arms, literally, showing all his happiness in seeing the goalkeeper with the white and blue jersey. “The chairman is a nice person, lovable, that knows a lot about football and loves it. I had the chance to meet him last night and we had a pleasant dinner. I appreciate the way he welcomed me and the confidence he always showed in me, as that is something important for me”, the former Real Madrid stated regarding the white and blue leader.

The relation with the chairman is just starting, but the one with coach Julen Lopetegui comes from a long way. “I know Julen Lopetegui for quite some time now, both personally and professionally, and he was always friendly to me. I will try to do my best to win the confidence of the coach and my team mates, in me and my work. I know there’s a lot of competition for the position of goalkeeper, but I hope and I want things to go well for everyone”, the World and two times European champion for Spain stated, ending his speech as he started it, with “ilusión”.

“It’s getting more and more obvious that I made the right decision in coming to FC Porto. For someone like me, who spent 25 years in the same club, it was difficult to leave and start a new stage in my career, but I am very happy and hopeful. It’s a different life, but it will demand just as much from me. I will work to give FC Porto many victories”, Casillas concluded.